BBBS Month 2025

September is here and we are celebrating Big Brothers Big Sisters Month! For over a century, thousands of Canadians, including so many in Guelph, have stepped up through our programs to help youth unlock their full potential. This month, we honour all volunteers, past and present, who make ‘mentorship = resilience’. Your commitment ensures more kids have equal chances to thrive. Thank you for making a difference.

MENTORSHIP EQUALS…

 Mentorship is about connection. It’s about consistency and building healthy relationships that last. Mentorship is about helping each other learn and grow and find magic within ourselves to unlock our full potential. If you are a mentor, the rewards for you are endless. And for your mentee, the benefits are measurable. 

Now, we have the scientific research to explain both why mentorship works, and how significantly it truly does change lives.

Mentorship = Resilience 

When you mentor a young person, you’re providing a stable, healthy, committed relationship with an adult. According to the research, this type of relationship can protect a child from the effects of toxic stress experienced when living with childhood adversities. Building resilience.

Measurably, increased resilience means improved outcomes in each of the following categories: 1) Social Emotional Competence, 2) Mental Health & Wellbeing, and 3) Educational Engagement & Employment Readiness. When you become a mentor, you’re helping with each of these.

Mentorship = Social Emotional Competence

Resilience = Relationship skills: Mentorship helps a young person communicate clearly, listen well, cooperate with others, resist inappropriate social pressure, negotiate conflict constructively, and seek and offer help when needed.

Resilience = Social awareness: Your support will help youth understand the perspectives of others and empathize with them, including those from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Resilience = Responsible decision making: Mentorship means youth make constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions based on ethical standards, safety, and social norms.

Resilience = Self-management: You’re helping a young person effectively manage stress, control impulses, and motivate themself to set and achieve goals. 

Resilience = Self-awareness: A more resilient young person knows more about their strengths and limitations.

Mentorship = Mental Health & Wellbeing

Resilience = Positive identity: You can help a young person believe in their own self-worth, with a well-grounded sense of confidence, optimism, and a “growth mindset.”

Resilience = Mental wellness: You’re helping youth discover a sense of belonging, meaning, and connection.

Resilience = Social inclusion & empowerment: Mentorship ensures your mentee feels connected, valued, safe and respected by the community.

Mentorship = Educational Engagement & Employment Readiness

Resilience = School connectedness: When a young person becomes more resilient, they become more engaged at school, gaining a more positive attitude and behaviours in their learning environments.

Resilience = Commitment to learning: Your mentorship helps a young person understand the lasting importance of learning and build a belief in their own abilities.

Resilience = Enhanced constructive use of time: You are providing opportunities — outside of school — to learn and develop new skills and interests with others.